Becoming A Hitmaker
From 2000 - 2003, Hodges released a number of solo worship / Christian albums. While busy working on his own music, David has also been writing and producing songs for various artists. In 2007 he worked with Celine Dion (“This Time”) and the Backstreet Boys (“Something That I Already Know”). Hodges has also worked with superstar artist Kelly Clarkson, whom he dated, along with former Evanescence bandmate Ben Moody, on songs from her album Breakaway ("Because of You" and "Addicted"). The album went on to sell over 11 million records worldwide and garnered him the 2007 BMI Song of the Year honor, a rarely accomplished and prestigious award. "Because of You" went on to be re-cut by Reba McEntire & Clarkson for McEntire's duets album Reba Duets, that version peaked at #2 on the Hot Country Songs. In 2008, David had a hit as writer and producer for American Idol season seven runner up David Archuleta for his song "Crush." The song reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the highest chart debut of any single since January 2007. Hodges also wrote a hit song with Daughtry entitled "What About Now." David took home a BMI pop award for the song in 2010. David also co-wrote "Open Up Your Eyes" and "Supernatural" with Daughtry for their hit album "Leave this Town." The record went on to sell over a million copies. Hodges made his first impact in the country world with artist Carrie Underwood where he co-wrote "What Can I Say" from her third record "Play On" which went to number one on the Billboard charts and sold over 1 million albums. David also co-wrote gold certified pop smash "Wanted" for Jessie James. He also co-wrote "Circadian," "Hard To Believe," and "Rapid Eye Movement" for David Cook's sophomore record "This Loud Morning," as well as "This Is Not The Last Time" for the album's deluxe edition. Throughout the rest of 2011, Hodges collaborated with artists like Carrie Underwood, Jason Derülo, Jason Mraz, Shinedown, Orianthi, Tyler Hilton, Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte, and more.
In fall of 2010, Hodges went to Nashville yet again to co-write with Carrie Underwood, this time for the title song on the latest Chronicles of Narnia film. The song was called "There's a Place for Us." The song was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best original song in a motion picture.
In spring of 2011, Hodges had success with Christina Perri's album Lovestrong in which he worked on co-writing and production of many songs on the record. Hodges also appears in the video for "Arms." By late 2011, he was back in with Christina to write the end title for hit film Twilight's second to final installment, Breaking Dawn. The song, entitled A Thousand Years, went on to sell nearly 2 million copies on a soundtrack that was certified gold. Rumor has it that Hodges is currently working on music for the final Twilight film Breaking Dawn 2 and that he will also enter the studio again with Perri to work on her new album for 2013. He also wrote "The Woman I Love" with Jason Mraz which was released on his 2012 album Love is a Four Letter Word. From March of 2012 through September of the same year, David co-produced Avril Lavigne's new album with friend and Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger. They made the record at Henson studios in Hollywood, CA. While the trifecta were in the studio over summer, Chad Kroeger engaged to Avril Lavigne. 2012, to date, has been Hodges most diverse and successful year as a writer having written with Avril Lavigne, Carrie Underwood, Jason Mraz, Natasha Bedingfield, Sara Evans, Carly Rae Jepsen, Chad Kroeger from Nickelback, Josh Groban, Skillet, Halestorm, and more. Hodges and songwriting partner Steven Miller spent a lot of time on Tristan Prettyman's Cedar and Gold for which they have multiple songs on the album. Additionally, he begins writing and production on Tonic frontman Emerson Hart's solo record later in 2012.
Hodges titles have sold over 50 million records and Evanescence's Fallen is still one of the highest selling rock albums of all time.
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